An omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and meat. Humans are natural omnivores, as we can live off of a mix of both. Most people eat an omnivorous diet consisting of both meat and plants like fruits and vegetables. However, some people adhere to stricter carnivore or herbivore-based diets for personal objectives and goals.
On the other hand, people who follow the ethical omnivore diet believe in sustainable practices but accept that they don’t want to restrict specific types of food. While the ethical omnivore movement is relatively new, it’s already growing exponentially.
Ethical Omnivorism Definition
An ethical omnivore is a new label that refers to people who eat an omnivorous diet but in a morally-aligning way. The principle is to avoid ingredient restriction, but rather focus on limiting the consumption of food from unsustainable sources. This diet focuses on a moral drive rather than a specific nutritional goal or focus. So, it can look different for everyone depending on what local supermarkets prioritize.
Factory farming is an essential term to understand when it comes to the movement. This refers to the method of raising animals in mass numbers and close quarters, using the latest in agricultural technology to increase margins. Oftentimes, this practice values profit over ethical sourcing. Many of these factory farms neglect ethical living conditions, breeding tactics, food quality, and butchering methods, so ethical omnivores are not likely to consume just any meat product.
Another concept that ethical omnivores think about is sustainable farming. This is the practice of using environmentally friendly means of crop production and harvest when providing produce for the local public. This does not necessarily mean simply buying organic, but instead making the effort to consciously support farming methods that promote responsible resource management and prioritize consumer health.
What is the Ethical Omnivore Movement
The ethical omnivore diet has grown in popularity for a few reasons. Today, we have many choices when we go into a grocery store, but an ethical omnivore will consider each option for its moral integrity as well as nutrition. Those who adhere to ethical omnivorism go the extra mile in acknowledging the impact that their financial contribution has on the well-being of animals, other humans, and the environment.
Many diet followers will do prior research before heading out to the grocery store, but companies are taking notice of this new movement and some have even started providing labels to assert that their products are “ethically raised” or “sustainable.”
The ethics of an omnivorous diet are gray because there is no conscious awareness about what agricultural choices are being made to bring the food from farm to table. In fact, many people are not even aware of the effects that their consumption choices have on animals or the environment because the production methods are so detached from the finished product. This movement aims to help prove to large food companies that the average person does care about these details, even if it isn’t widely discussed.
How to Be an Ethical Omnivore
Anyone can be an ethical omnivore. This diet is not restrictive, so it does not limit food by the ingredients. Ethical omnivorism only requires that you do research about certain products before you buy them, whether that be inside the store or at home. Unlike diets that eliminate whole food groups, the ethical omnivore diet allows for flexibility in choosing meals, but it also promotes mindful eating.
Ethical Omnivore vs Vegan
The vegan diet is a restrictive diet that only permits the consumption of food products that contain no animal ingredients. Similar to a vegetarian, vegans will not eat meat, but they also do not consume dairy or honey products because they have animal-derived origins. When you are an ethical omnivore vs vegan, you have different goals and restrictions.
While both diets may be rooted in ethical considerations, they approach making food choices differently. An ethical omnivore has more variety to choose from with meal idea preparation, but vegans have more options for each ingredient because they are not limited by sourcing standards.
How to Choose Ethical Meat
When you are buying meat as an ethical omnivore, there are a few considerations to manage what you purchase. Followers of this diet believe that their dollar is their voice, and that supporting poor sourcing practices only enables companies to continue prioritizing profit over quality.
Ethical animal products are easy to come by, but it is important to understand how to determine what is truly ethical and what is a trick. For example, some meat that says “grass-fed” may not truly be grass-fed. In order to use that labeling, the company only needs to grass-feed the cow for a portion of their life. The new label to look for with beef is “grass-fed and finished.”
Another label to look for is the “Certified Humane” label which tells the buyer that the animal had ample space to graze and move around during their life. Pasture-raised farming has been considered the most humane because the practice avoids any unnecessary restriction or confinement. One of the highest standards for humane treatment is the “Animal Welfare Approval” stamp, which tells the buyer that the animal enjoyed a life on the pasture.
Ways to Eat More Sustainably
Eating a sustainable diet as an ethical omnivore is more of a journey than like flipping a switch. Some days you may be better at deciphering between the ethical choice and the standard option, but it’s important to embrace the learning curve. Try these tips when you are starting out on the diet to increase your chances of success!
Moderate Red Meat Consumption
The ethical omnivore does not necessarily have to give up meat, but instead might limit their red meat consumption when finding ethically-sourced meat is difficult. Not every store will carry the same supply of sustainable meat choices, so it may be simpler to limit red meat consumption on certain weeks.
Eat More Plant-Based Proteins
Proteins like beans, legumes, chickpeas, and nuts are nutrient-dense and likely to have ethical sourcing practices. Mainly, with plant-based proteins, you want to look for environmental considerations and harvesting practices before purchasing. These can be quick finds that don’t require too much analysis before making a confident purchase.
Reduce Food Waste
Wasted food contributes to unnecessary resource depletion, so minimizing this impact is a key aspect of the ethical omnivore movement. To avoid this waste, ethical omnivores get creative during mealtime. By using your leftovers and meal prepping, you can limit your personal contribution to overall food waste.
Summary
Feeling confident in the moral considerations of your food can make mealtime all the more enjoyable. If you’ve been looking for a new diet, you may have just found it. The ethical omnivore movement is an unrestricted diet, meaning that your commitment to moral responsibility does not require any sacrifice of crave-worthy foods.
